5 Fires In 1 Weekend

The winter months usually prove the most eventful for our disaster services volunteers and if this weekend is any indicator, this pattern is set to repeat itself. In just two days, volunteers on our Disaster Action Teams across the region responded to 5 disasters.

A fire in Canaan, NH met with tragic results with the death of one person. Our volunteers reached out to the survivor of that tragedy to ensure that in addition to traditional services, such as lodging, food and clothing, they knew that we could offer disaster health and mental health services. The other four responses, ranging from a mobile home fire to a multi-family dwelling to a boiler explosion, brought devastating results to 7 families in just a two day period.

With generous support of donors and tireless work of volunteers, we were able to let all of the affected families and individuals know that their community, through the work of the Red Cross, is their with some support. If you want to be part of this response, either as a volunteer or a donor, contact us at 802-660-9130.

Shelter Initiative Receives Generous Boost

This is the time of year in which Sentinel Investments traditionally thanks its top producing representatives with a gift. Well, we all know that this has not been your average year. The Montpelier-based asset managment firm knows just how devastated its home state has been by natural disasters, first with the record-breaking spring flooding and then the historic destruction of Tropical Storm Irene.

Foregoing the gifts that they would distribute to their representatives, Sentinel has made an investment in preparedness here in Vermont. With a gift of $15,000, Sentinel has given their support for the local community shelter initiative being undertaken by the Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley American Red Cross.

The shelter initiative, which was an idea already under consideration before Irene, came quickly into focus when the widespread,destructive forces of Irene demonstrated a need for heighten levels of community preparedness. While the Red Cross opened up 13 shelters across the region, some sheltering needs could not be immediately addressed.

Now, the Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley American Red Cross intends to provide shelter equipment and training to Vermont's 251 communities and the 12 we serve in New Hampshire's Upper Valley. The idea is that every town will have some capacity to shelter its residents and the ability to deploy those assets until the help of the Red Cross and others can arrive.

Thank you to Sentinel for their generosity and foreshight to help build a stronger future for Vermont and New Hampshire's Upper Valley.